Denison Barb - Roseline Shark

The Denison barb (Sahyadria denisonii), sold in most shops as the roseline shark, comes from fast, cool rivers in the Western Ghats of southern India. It is a torpedo-shaped silver fish with a black line running from the snout through the tail, a red stripe above it that runs forward across the head, and yellow and black markings in the tail. Nothing about it is shark-like except the profile, and it is far more sociable than the name suggests.

Aquarium care

• A larger species that needs a long tank rather than a tall one.
• Peaceful with other fish but strongly social with its own kind.
• Keep six or more. Singles become nervous and lose colour.
• Prefers cooler, well-oxygenated water with steady flow.
• Swims through the middle of the tank and rarely stops.
• Omnivorous: quality flake and pellets with frozen foods and some vegetable matter.

A good centrepiece for a large community with rainbowfish, larger tetras, loaches and other robust, fast-moving fish. It is a poor match for very small nano species and for tanks with little swimming room.

Stock rotates with each shipment, and livestock is sold for local pickup at our Lethbridge store. See the rest of the current barbs.